3-12 July, Holmenkollen, Norway - The 2012 UNITAR-IPI Fellowship Programme in Peacemaking and Preventive Diplomacy was held in Holmenkollen, Norway from 3 to 12 July 2012 and addressed by a range of distinguished resource persons from around the world.

During this two-week Fellowship Programme, its participants analysed violent conflicts and their resolution; studied and applied negotiation and mediation theories and techniques; benefited from lessons and best practices from Asia, the Middle East and Africa presented by world-renowned resource persons; and engaged in practical negotiation and mediation exercises. A case study, based on a current conflict was developed to simulate mediation and negotiation between conflicting parties using a real-world conflict situation.

UNITAR’s interest-based, problem-solving approach to negotiation and mediation is based on the latest knowledge in the field of conflict resolution and encourages the exploration of all parties’ interests, so that innovative options can be developed to address parties’ concerns and aspirations. In contrast to more commonly used power-based and rights-based approaches, interest-based negotiation and mediation tend to be less costly, enabling a more lasting, integrative, win-win solution to be found.

Since its inception in 1993, the Fellowship Programme has trained over 690 individuals directly involved in conflict resolution on behalf of the UN, regional organizations and member states. Thirty-seven such participants of 31 nationalities were selected for this year’s programme from over 130 applications and nominations. These included participants from the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, the Office of Legal Affairs, the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the European Union and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation, as well as 14 diplomats from member states of the United Nations.

The 2012 Programme was funded by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Sweden, and Finland and the Government of Australia.